It was yet another slow start for the team, with some ugly shooting and questionable defense on the perimeter allowing Penn to keep pace in the first half.
The Lions took an early 8-4 lead, but the Quakers pushed back and were able to lead for stretches of the half. A Michael Zanoni 3 gave Penn its largest lead of the half at 20-17 with 7:33 left in the half.
One bright spot in the half was Penn State’s interior presence, rolling up 24 paint points in the opening 20 minutes. A Puff Johnson layup gave Penn State its largest lead of the half at 32-27, but Penn trimmed the deficit to 34-31 at halftime.